Forever Love!

I am a Bryan Adams fan. When it comes to love songs, I don’t think anyone can write the lyrics the way he does. Matter of fact speaking, my all time favorite song, is definitely a Bryan Adams number. The song came out in the Nineties. It’s called (Everything I do) I do it for you. The song is truly about how one feels when one is in love, it speaks about sacrifice. What the heart feels is what is expressed. To this day this is my number 1 love song, and it always will be. Because there is no song, in the world that expresses love the way this song does.

It’s Valentines, and it’s been a whole week of listening to people tirelessly talk about their plans. Love is a beautiful feeling. It’s my whole universe. I love to love. It’s my dream of dreams.

I love Valentines day. Love seeing the excitement in people. I don’t understand the valentines, day hype. My philosophy is simple: ‘If you can’t love a person through the year, do you think you can love a person in a day?’

Gifts don’t establish or prove love. It just shows your ability to purchase commodities. So, if you love that someone in your life, don’t just wait for today. Love is to eternity-today and everyday. And Valentines day is just a reminder of the love you celebrate. Keep God, first place and everything will fall in line. 

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. Corinthians 13:4-8

 

This verse describes the characteristics of true love. The love we show to God is obedience: For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: 1 John 5:3

Love is patient! It practices kindness. We cannot hide what we are from our omniscient God. Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

The words we speak need to be directed by love. Love has its lasting effects. Only love expressed is what pleases the Lord. It pleases God when we have the same love in our hearts as He has...we then are like Him and show forth His love and who He is. His plan is that we be like Him towards one and all. God is love...and God's love is towards all.

Let us look at what God says is true love.

Love is patient...

It is longsuffering. Being patient means one is not quick to get angry....or to take offence. One kind of patience is the courage to endure. The other kind of patience is the willingness to wait. Have you ever waited on God, its worth all the patience in the world. Because you will see your dream unfold a little at a time before you. You know it was and is worth all the patience in the world. To be patient is to endure discomfort without complaint. God is an incredibly patient God. God is Love. True love is patient.

The best things in life are worth waiting for.

Patience is faith in action because it says:
God is in control of life.
Patience is hope in action because it says:
God has great things in mind for the future.
Patience is love in action because it says:
You are worth waiting for!

Love is kind...

Kindness is love and love shows itself in kindness. Kindness comes up from the depth of our hearts.

Kindness is being good to others from the heart. It means do good to others in thought, word, and deed. Kindness is the fruit of the spirit that holds us together. The kindness of God, therefore, refers to God’s goodness in action. God’s kindness is meant to bring repentance in our hearts. Romans 2:4.

Just, the other day, I overheard a priest (Fr. Leslie-26.05.2013update) talk so lovingly to people. There was so much kindness in his words, and much love. Believe me, kindness impacts. I cannot and will not forget the way he spoke to the people. His act of kindness is forever engraved in my heart. 
Don’t look for faults in others. But in your kindness and compassion, be the one who cheers them on. Be appreciative. God loves that. It pleases His heart immensely. Imagine the world with all kind people. What a wonderful world that would be.

Love does not envy...

God doesn’t want us to be envious of anyone because He has something uniquely special for each and every one of us. We are each gifted and called to a special purpose. If we always want what someone else has, we will miss out on God’s best for us. We don't have to prove ourselves and we don't have to chase after things that will keep us unhappy. We need to stop pleasing people in order to get somewhere. The only person we need to please is God. Lets follow Jesus teaching, by being like our Father in Heaven, Who is perfect. We need to know that God is Sovereign. That is the only way we will be truly happy with our lives. Happiness is not the capacity to have everything. It is just being happy and content with what God has given you and relying on Him-God completely, to provide whenever the need arises. God is ‘Jehovah Jireh’- the God who always provides.

Love is not puffed up...

Love does not boast. Love does not remind a person of the great "sacrifice" that was made for them. Love is aware of the needs of others and also humble enough to accept the help offered when in need. It encourages and builds confidence in people. Love does not condemn-because God does not condemn anyone. We all have sinned, let us remember that and not be waiting to charge others for their faults. Let us always, be humble and remember that we are not above others. That God made everyone in His image and likeness. Let us love with all our hearts. We cannot change anyone, but we can be the change we want to see. We can accept the people we love with their faults-making concessions-being fully aware-that we commit faults too-and love them as they are and love them as we would love ourselves.

Love does not behave rudely . . .

True love is courteous-more to do with mannerisms. That is something that we really seriously need to bring back. But love cares about others and is gentle. True love is not confrontational.....it gives the benefit of the doubt...it always seeks peace. When a couple fight, they don’t need to bring each other down, or try to disgrace the other to the outside world. What they need to do however, is settle the matter at home in a peaceful manner. Again good communication is very important. Anger brings about rude behaviour. We need to calm down.

Can you see how all this ties together? If the love of Jesus, is in a person's heart they will be patient, they will be kind and not envy another. Where Christ lives in the heart that person does not uplift himself in pride, and does not act rudely to others.

We need to control the temper? Nothing that is not achievable. It takes time and practice. Let love guide you. Let love be your motivating force.

Love does not seek its own . . .

If we want to live life and live it well, if we want to show the love of Christ to all around us, then we must first die to ourselves. We need to have a sincere interest in people’s interest. In a conversation, let the person speak. Be a good listener, and be genuinely interested in what the other person is saying. Never make a conversation about you. Let the other person have the spotlight.

Love is not provoked . . . 

To provoke means "to arouse anger or sudden outburst." Love guards against being irritated, upset, or angered by things said or done against it. A person that gets easily angered or provoked makes living a difficulty apart from the grace of God. Life gets to be a terror zone for everyone around the person.  Ephesians 4:26 reminds us not to allow the sun to go down on our wrath. The word wrath means rage. It is ok to be angry. But any reaction to it becomes a sin.

What is the benefit of provocation? Does it not just cause more hurt? How can there be any reconciliation where there is provocation? Are these the memories we want to create? Do we want to terrorize the people we love?

Like Jesus, we need to be kind, patient and forgiving always.

Love thinks no evil. . .

Those who possess and characterize true love are not disposed to find evil where no evil seems to be. Love keeps no records of wrongs done. Love always forgives. 

You can give me a million of reasons, why you choose not to forgive. And I’ll happily give you a million and one reasons why you need to. Starting from Jesus, when crucified, in all His love spoke “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

And then there is the late missionary, Graham Staines wife, who readily followed Jesus ways, by forgiving the people who burned her husband and their two little boys alive.

Forgiveness is the only way to remove past hurts from our lives. It does not harbor the hurt that others do to us, but graciously forgives and holds no grudge.

A love based on forgiveness can restore our peace, joy and fellowship with others, even when we think they have hurt us, beyond the point of hurting. FORGIVE.

Love believes all things . . .

All things love endures.

All things love believes.

All things love hopes.

You could replace it with “always” and then it looks like this:

Always love endures.

Always love believes.

Always love hopes.

Always and Forever. Love is . . .

Love never ceases to have faith as it never loses hope. In other words, love believes the best of every person. It does not behave suspiciously. It does not believe in criticisms. Love will always defend! Love will always standby.  What a wonderful thing it is to know that when you are facing the toughest situations, when you are criticized, belittled-and put down that there is some one who stands up for you and with you.... That is what love does.....it stands by always and forever.

Love endures all things . . .

Love doesn't run away or give up when things get difficult. It hangs in there and with God's help it gently teaches what is right. Love is more concerned about the other person. The best example of this is Christ. He was arrested, whipped, mocked, and then crucified. He endured it all with love, so that we could be saved. Someone had to die. Christ endured all of it for us because of His great love for us.

Love refuses to give up, surrender, stop believing or hoping. No matter how bad a situation or how humiliating the hour is....the love of Christ in one's heart does not seek vengeance. It keeps the door open and prays for God's intervention...it turns the other cheek. Love will simply not stop loving.

Love never fails . . .

7 steps-to help understand love.

• Be humble. 1 Peter 5:5-6
• Believe the best in people. Philippians 4:8
• Keep a clear conscience before God and man. Acts 24:16
• Don’t let a root of bitterness grow in your heart. Ephesians 4:31
• Overlook offenses when possible. Proverbs 19:11
• Make every effort to do what leads to peace and to build each other. Romans 14:19
• Be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
• Search your heart and think about the close relationships you have. For the sake of the Gospel, let’s work at loving one another.

True love, must first be directed toward God. Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" Matthew 22:37-38. He tells us, "this is the first and greatest commandment." The second is to "love your neighbor as yourself" v.39. First we have our obligations to God, then we have our obligations to our fellow man.

CONCLUSION:  Love is the only one motivating force that changes everyone for the better. When someone loves us we want to be good to them in return; we want to look better and be kinder. Love can soften the hardest of hearts, but without love, hearts become hard and unhappy.

REMEMBER: Every heart desires, to be loved. We must work towards loving the hardest of hearts. This is the only way we can make God’s presence felt.

It is just a relentless trust in all that we do, and all that we cannot do, that God will accomplish all His purposes.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

God will orchestrate everything to perfection. Let the love of loves breathe in your direction. Have a Happy Valentines day!

    

PRAYER:  Father, teach me to know, what it is to love, without being judgemental. Give me an understanding mind, that looks through the hurts of people, so that they could be filled with hope faith and love. This I ask in Jesus, name. Amen.